Text Bulletins Details

Midday News

1415 HRS

23.02.2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays out his vision for making India a 10 trillion dollar economy; Says country recorded highest growth rate and lowest inflation rate during NDA rule.

India will exercise all options to win a decisive battle against Pakistan, responsible for Pulwama terror attack says Jaitley.

Death toll in the Assam hooch tragedy reaches 89; Ten people arrested so far.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declares a year-long state of emergency, following months of protests against his rule.

In ISSF shooting World Cup Apurvi Chandela qualifies for finals in 10-metre air rifle.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid out his vision for making India a 10 trillion dollar economy, and the third-largest in the world. Addressing the Global Business Summit in New Delhi, Mr Modi said, he wants the nation to have countless startups, and be a leader in the global drive towards renewable sources of energy. The Prime Minister said, his government is working hard to create a New India which fulfills the aspirations and dreams of all Indians.

"India is a country of 130 crore aspirations and there can never be a singular vision for development and progress. Our vision for New India is to cater all sections of society, irrespective of their economic profile, their castes, creed language and religion. We are working hard to create a New India, which fulfills the aspirations and dreams of 130 crore Indians."

He said, his vision of new India includes addressing the challenges of the future while also solving problems of the past. Mr Modi said, under the NDA government, the country witnessed the highest post-liberalisation growth rate of 7.4 per cent and lowest inflation of less than 4.5 per cent.

"During 2014 to 2019, the country would register average growth of 7.4 per cent and the average inflation would be less then 4.5 per cent. Post liberalisation of Indian economy, this would be the highest rate of average growth and lowest rate of average inflation witnessed during the period of any government."

He said, reforms like GST have laid a solid foundation for higher GDP growth. The Prime Minister said, before 2014, there was a competition between Ministries and individuals on corruption and on delays, but now there are competitions for development and for achieving targets.

"The Progress our nation has achieved since 2014 gives me confident that nothing is impossible for 130 crore Indians. Namumkin ab Mumkin hai. It was said that corruption free government in India was impossible but people of India have made it possible.

The Progress our nation has achieved since 2014 gives me confident that nothing is impossible for 130 crore Indians. Namumkin ab Mumkin hai. It was said that corruption free government in India was impossible but people of India have made it possible.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hoped that India becomes a greater tourist destination as the world is looking for peace. He was addressing representatives from 190 countries who visited the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj yesterday. Mr Modi told the representatives in New Delhi that the Kumbh is the centre for culture and spirituality and the arrangements at the Mela have become the centre of attraction.

Referring to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mr Modi said, people should vote in large numbers. The Prime Minister said, the Election commission should initiate a process whereby people from across the world can come and see the election process in India.

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The Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Tonk in Rajasthan today. Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, this is the first visit of the Prime Minister to the state. The BJP as party won just one assembly seat out of Eight seats falling under Tonk- Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency in assembly election held in December. There are 6 lok sabha seats in eastern part of the state. His next rally is scheduled at Churu on February 26.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that India will exercise all options, diplomatic or otherwise, to win a decisive battle against Pakistan which is responsible for Pulwama terror attack. Describing Pakistan as a rogue state, he said it is not acting against perpetrators of the attack, though the guilty have themselves admitted to the attack. Mr. Jaitley said,

"I think as the Prime Minister has said India will exercise all instruments at its command- whether, it is diplomatic or otherwise- and therefore we have to act in a manner that this battle has to be decisively won by us, because Pakistan is not willing to give up its traditional role in our neighbourhood as rogue state."

Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech, Mr Jaitley said, when a man sitting in Pakistan has claimed the responsibility for the attack, what evidence does Pakistan need. Addressing a Global Business Summit in New Delhi, Mr Jaitley said India is extremely angry today.

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US President Donald Trump has said, it is a very dangerous situation India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and Washington would like to see it stopped. Talking to reporters at the White House, Mr Trump said, New Delhi is looking at something very strong. He said, Pakistan was earlier taking very strong advantage of the US under other Presidents as they were paying 1.3 billion a year to them. Mr Trump said, he ended that payment because Islamabad was not helping Washington in a way that they should have been.

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The death toll in the Assam hooch tragedy has gone up to 89. Most of the deaths have been reported from Golaghat district, while 23 people have lost their lives at Jorhat. We have a report from our Correspondent:-

"Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal has held an emergency meeting in Guwahati today with senior officials including DGP and Chief Secretary and instructed action against culprits. Ten persons have been arrested so far at Golaghat and Jorhat districts. Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Jorhat Medical College and hospital where several patients are undergoing treatment. A team of specialist doctors is being deployed in Golaghat.The Police and Excise department are conducting raids against spurious liquor. Several senior officials are camping at Jorhat and Golaghat to monitor the situation. MANAS PRATIM SARMA, AIR NEWS, GUWAHATI."

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In Arunachal Pradesh, the Army staged flag marches in Itanagar Capital Complex area this morning after protesters from various organisations clashed with security forces. The organisations had called a 48-hour bandh on Thursday and yesterday against the report submitted to the state government by the Joint High Power Committee on the issue of granting Permanent Resident Certificate to Non-Arunachal Pradesh STs. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and discussed the prevailing situation amid ongoing protests in certain parts of the state. He urged the people to remain calm and maintain peace.

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A fire broke out at a parking lot near the venue of Aero India show in Bengaluru today. Over 80 cars were gutted. There is no report of any casualty, so far. More than ten fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire. The Fire department said, the incident site is far from the actual Aero India venue and there is no reason to be alarmed that the blaze will spread further.

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An avalanche hit Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir early this morning. Disaster Management Department officials said in Srinagar that the avalanche occurred in Chrawan area of Ajas. Five people were trapped under the snow, prompting authorities to launch a search and rescue operation. All the five have been rescued by a joint team of Police and the Army.

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Welcome back, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has declared a year-long state of emergency, dissolving his cabinet and local governments throughout the country. Omar al-Bashir in a televised address yesterday called on Sudan's parliament to postpone constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for another term in a presidential election in 2020. Bashir's announcement followed months of nearly daily protests against his rule, with thousands of people taking to the streets across the country since December 19 to call for him to stand down after nearly three decades in office.

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India's Apurvi Chandela today qualified for the Finals of the Women's 10 metres Air Rifle event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi. She shot a total of 629.3 points in the qualification round. Anjum Moudgil and Elavenil Valaraivan failed to qualify. While Anjum's score was 628, Elavenil shot a score of 625.3 points. Apurvi will now figure in the Finals along with seven other shooters. India have secured both their Olympic quotas in the Women's 10 metres event through Apurvi and Anjum at the World Championships last September.

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Indian captain Virat Kohli today said, his team will respect the government's decision with regards to playing Pakistan in the 50-over World Cup beginning in May in London. There have been calls to boycott the 16th June World Cup face-off against Pakistan at Old Trafford in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. Speaking on the eve of India's opening T-20 against Australia at Visakhapatnam, Kohli said, his team's stand is simple.